Beck’s research to be published in the American Journal of Sexuality Education

January 17, 2017

Scott Beck, Ph.D.

Scott Beck, Ph.D., professor in the Department Of Teaching and Learning, has an article that was recently accepted for publication in the American Journal of Sexuality Education. The article, entitled “Progress and Backlash in the wake of Obergefell: Reaching Conservative Southern Teachers through the Power of Literature,” uses a mixed narrative and quantitative analysis to examine how a graduate class who self identify as predominantly politically and religiously conservative elementary teachers in the South make sense of gender and sexually diverse young adult and children’s literature in the context of concurrent, relevant national events, specifically that of the U.S. Supreme Court’s legalization of gay marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges.

This study provides fruitful insights into conservative professionals’ attitudes and practices regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth and adults. The findings suggest effective ways to help prepare conservative professionals to sensitively address gender and sexually diverse issues in elementary school settings.

For more information:

Beck, Scott; Walker-DeVose, Dina; Town, Caren; Agnich, Laura & Smith, Trina. (in press). Progress and Backlash in the wake of Obergefell: Reaching Conservative Southern Teachers through the Power of Literature. American Journal of Sexuality Education.